Transmission



- Witness.

June 7, 1932. L.- s. SHELDRICK TRANSMISSION Original Filed March 22, 1930 lllllllllllllllllllIlllllIIllllllllllllll'llhlih I ATTORNEY.

Patented June 7, 1932 iJNi'i-n earns tseaess FICE LAURENCE S. SHELDRIGK, OF IDEARBORN, I'llICI-IIG-AN, ASSIGIiTOR TO FORD MOTOR GOM- PANY, OF DEARBOBIN, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE TRANSMISSION Original application filed March 22, 1930, Serial No. 437,988. Divided and this application filed October 27,

1930. Serial No. 491,395. Y

This is a division ofmy co-pending application, Serial #437,988, filed March 22, 1930. The object of my invention is to provide an automobile transmission having three forward speeds and one reverse. speed and which operates on the sliding gear principle. A further obgect of my invention is to provide such a sliding gear transmission with means whereby it may be silently shift-1 ed from the third or direct drive speed hack into the second speed even while the car is.

in motion. The purpose of such silent shifting is to facilitate handhng the car m traflic. With my improved transmission the car may be slowed down at intersections, on account of cross traffic or trafiic lights, to about ten or fifteen miles an hour and when the intersection is reached if the driver is given the right of way, he may then silently. and easily shift into the second speed gear so that maximum acceleration may be obtained.

\Vith the ordinary sliding gear transmission it is almost impossible for the average driver to shift from direct speed to second the accelerator pedal. This method of gear shifting becomes a fixed procedure with the average driver so that when a shift from direct to second speed is attempted grinding and clashing of the gears invariably results because of the much higher speed of the normally driven gear over the engine driving gear.

My improved transmission may be shifted silently from high gear to second gear at any time, either while the car is stationary or while it is in motion, without clashing the gears or without any special procedure by the The reasonfor this is that when such driver. I provide an overrunning clutch be v V tween the engine driving gear and the driven a driven shaft to overrun the engine to combeen described, i. e., to prevent clashing of the gears; while the purpose of the over: running clutch in direct speed is to obtain a reduction in fuel necessary to operate the cars It is estimated that during one-third of the total driving time, either in trafiic or in rolling country, the car is slowing down. Duringthese slowing down periods either thecar is unnecessarilyslowed down by the drag of the engine or the engine must be operated at a speed corresponding to the car speed. In the former case more fuel must be used to accelerate the car, while in the later excess fuel must be used to keep the engine operating at car speed during these periods.

lVith my improved transmission the driven members are free to overrun the en'gineso that during slowing down periods the engine may be run at idling speed. The saving in fuel resulting from idlingthe engine while the car is coasting down hills or slowing down in traffic is very appreciable.

Further, the engine of the car is immensely benefited by use of this transmission because it eliminates a source of oil pumping with its consequent carbon deposits. With the ordinary transmission during slowing down periods the engine is usually driven by the car and the throttle valve is closed so that a high vacuum is obtained in the engine cyl-- ably mounted on the driven shaft splines,

. anda second speed gear connected through an overrunning clutch to this shaft. When it is desirable to usethe engine as a brake, meansare provided for coupling the second speed gear to the low'speed gear so that a positive drive is obtained from the second speed gear to the driven shaft.

7 Still a further object of my invention is to provide a novel means for universally mounting my gear shifting lever which means will be exceptionally easy to assemble and provide a non-rattling oil-tight seal between the I lever and the transmission housing.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a manually operable stop whereby the shifting lever is normally restricted inits travel so as to correctly mesh with the second speed gear whereby the wheels may overrun the engine, which stop may be conveniently operated by the driver from the control or free end of the lever so that a further travel of the lever is permitted to thereby positively couple the engine and second speed gear therebyallowing the engine to be used as a brake in thisspeed. This controlling device or stop is of simple and inexpensive construction and provides an improved means for obtaining five operative positions for the conventional gear shifting lever.

With these and other'objects in view my inventionconsists in the arran ement con-- struction, and combination of the various parts of my improved device, as describedin the specification, claimed in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: V V

Figure 1 shows a vertical central sectional view through my improved transmission.

. Figure 2 shows a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 shows a sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure -1. p

' Referringtothe accompanying drawing, I have used the reference numeral '10 to indicate generally a transmission housing secured to the rear face of an engine clutch housing 11. I The upper portion of the housing 10 is enclosed by means of a cover plate 12 in which the gear shifting mechanism is mounted. I have provided a drive gear 13 formed integral with the rear end of a clutch shaft 14 which is driven by the engine clutch. The drive shaft 14 adjacent to the gear 13 is rotatably mounted on a ball bearing 15 in ing 10, in which it is rotatably mountedby asecondball bearing 19. 7 I

I have provided a conventional'jack shaft 20 secured to the lower part of the housing '10 parallel to the driven shaft 17 upon which a cluster gear 21is rotatably vmounted by means of a pair of roller bearings 22. This cluster gear 21 is of the conventional type having a large gear 23 permanently in mesh with the drive gear 13, a second speed gear 24 spaced 'rearwardly from the gear 23, a low speed gear 25 spaced rearwardly from the gear 24, and a reverse speed gear 26 forming the rear end. of the cluster; The. gear 26 is in constant mesh with a similar gear 27 which is rotatably mounted at one side of the transmission in the ordinary manner.

The rear half of the shaft 17 is splined at 28 to receive a universal oint hub and to coact with the sliding transmission gears. It

will be noted that I have provided a portion 29 of the shaft 17 having a reduced diameter between the drive gear 13 and the splines 17. A second speed sliding gear 32 is rotatably mounted on this reduced portion. Reciprocally mounted on the splines 17 is a low speed sliding gear 30 of such a size that it may be moved into mesh with either of the gear'25 or 27 to thereby drive the car in low or reverse speed in the conventional manner.

I have incorporated an overrunning clutch of the coil expanding type between the second speed sliding gear andthe driven shaft 17.

This overrunning clutch and gear are assembled into a unit which is reciprocated ,with the gear Slidabiy mounted onzjthe forward end of the splines 28 I have provided a' cup shaped drive member 31. The gear 32 is rotatably mounted onthe reduced portion 29 and is formed integral with a sleeve into which the drive member 31 isrotatably mounted. Thus, the gear 32 is rotatably supported on the reduced portion 29 and on the drive member 31. A shifter collar 34 is formed integral with the rear end of sleeve 33 and is provided with a detachable retain-,

ing ring 35 to secure the member 31 in this sleeve.

An annular chamber 36 is formed within I the gear 32 and the cup shaped member 31 into which my overrunn ng clutch operates. This overrunning clutch consists of a helical band 37 having one end anchored at 38 in a suitable opening in the hub portion of the gear 32. Thus, the band 37. is rotated at ail times with the gear 32. This spiral band exresistance is placed on the free end of this band and the gear 32 rotated so as to uncoil it, then the periphery of the band will grip the wall of the chamber 36 which will anchor the free end more firmly to thereby expand the band into driving contact with the member 31 so that the gear 32 and drive member will operate as a unit. It will be readily seen that according to the principles of energizer brake bands, very little pressure need be e2;- erted on the free end of band to start this energizing action.

I have provided a ball 39 which is disposed between the hub portion of the drive member 31 and a conical groove ground in the free end of the band 37. member is bent inwardly at 4 to form a stop for the ball 39 so that a one-way clutch is provided between the member 31 and the hand This is a conventional form of ball clutch and simply serves to energize the end of the band to start the gripping action so that the 32 and the member 31 will be rotated as aunit when the gear is rotated faster than the shaft 7 17 in the direction-expanding theband 37.

I have provided a row of internal clutch teeth 42 machined in the forward end of the gear 32 so that when this gear is being moved forwardly from the position shown in Figure 1, these teeth will mesh with the end portions of the teeth forming the gear 13 to thereby lock these two gear members together. A direct drive is thereby obtained between the drive shaft 14 and driven shaft 17. However, when the gear 32 is moved rearv-Jardly from the position shown in Figure 1, its teeth mesh with the teeth of the gear 24 thereby driving the gear 32 in the same direction but at a reduced speed.

Vvhen the gear 32 is being driven either direct or in second speed, the torque is transmitted through the band 37 to the drive member 31 and then to the driven shaft 17. If the shaft 17 is being rotated faster than the gear 32 the band 37 cannot expand into engagement with the drive member 31 so that the shaft overruns the gear. This ac ion occurs when the car is coasting down hill and when the gear 32 is shifted from direct into second speed while the car is in motion.

I have provided a clutch fork 43 which coact-s with the shifter collar 34 to reciprocate the gear and overrunning clutch unit. A second set of internal gear teeth 44 are machined in the unit adjacent to the shifter collar 34 and I h ave likewise provided a male clutch member 45 formed integral with the gear 30 in position so that when the collar 34 is shifted rearwardly to its extreme position. the teeth 44 will mesh with the clutch member to thereby lock the gears 32 and 30 together. I have shown the position of the shifter collar 34 in normal second speed by means of the dotted lines 46 so that it will be clear that when the gear 32 is shifted to the normal The end of this band second speed the teeth 44 will not engage the clutch member 45. r

When the gear member 32 is moved to the normal second speed position the drive is obtained from the gear 24, through the gear 32, band 37, member 31, and driven shaft 17. However, when the gear 32 is moved rearwardly to its extreme position, the drive is obtained from the gear 24, through the gear. 32, clutch teeth 44 and 45, directly to the driven shaft 17. It will be noted that in the former case the shaft 17 is free to overrun the driving gears but in the latter case the shaft 17 is positively coupled to the driving gears atall times.

Means are shown for shifting the sliding gears 30 and 32 which consists of a lever 47 pivotally mounted at 48 in the upper end of a bracket 49extending from the cover plate 12. The fork 43 is secured to a shaft, not shown in the drawing but which is reciprocally mounted in the cover plate. Likewise,

afork 50 is provided to reciprocate the gear 30 and is secured to a shaft 51 reciprocally.

mounted in the cover plate 12. The hub portions of these forks are provided with notches 52 into which the lower end of the shifter lever 47 eXtendsto selectively reciprocate theforks in the conventional manner.

Means are secured to the lower end of the lever 47 which permits sliding the gear rearwardly only to the normal position shown at 4. The lower end of the lever 47 is rooved at 61 into which a rod 53 is reciprocally mounted. I have provided a clip 54 slidably mounted on the lower end of the lever 47 and which is held from rotation relative thereto by fiat 55 formed on the lower end of this lever. A notch 56 is formed in the lower end of the rod 53 which coacts with the clip 54 so that when the rod is reciprocated it will also reciprocate the clip 54 and a coil spring 57 resiliently urges the clip downwardly on the lever.

An car 58 extends rearwardly from the clip 54 in position to normally strike against a lug 59, formed on the inside of the bracket 49, when the gear 32 is moved to the position shown by the dotted lines 46. When it is desired to move the clutch teeth 44 into engagement with the clutch member 45, the rod 57 is drawn upwardly whichmoves. the ear till 58 also upwardly so that the lever may be shifted to the position wherein the clip is shown by dotted lines 60 to thereby allow the clutch members 44and 45 to engage.

An arm 62 is hinged at 71 adjacent to the upper end of the shifter. lever 47 and a ball 63 is fastened to the top of this lever in position so that both the ball and arm may be gripped by one hand at the same time. The- 62 so that when the. arm is gripped with the,

ball the rod'will be drawn upwardly to there- I V by move the ear 58.

-Referring to Figure 3, the pi votal mountmg 48 of the lever 47 consists ofa spherical seat 64 machined in the bracket 49. This seat is so machined that the shifter lever pivot 48 may be inserted therein from the outside of the bracket and will be accurately pivoted for universal movement on this seat 64. That portion of the bracket 49 surrounding the spherical flange 68 which is reciprocally mounted on the lever 47 just above the pivot 48, the outer spherical portion of which coacts with the inside of the spherical cap member 66. It will thus be seen that a self aligning connection is obtained-between the flange 68 and the cap 66 thereby forming an oil-tight seat between the lever 47 and the cap 66 which closes the opening 67. A spring 69 is disposed between the pivot 48 and the flange 68 to resiliently urge the pivot into, the seat 64 and the flange 68 into the spherical cap 66.

Thus, a double oil seal isprovided between the shifter lever and the bracket 49 which effectively prevents the transmission oil from oozing out through the-universal mountmg for the lever.

Means are also provided to prevent rotary movement of the lever 47 relative to the bracket 49 which means consists of a horizontal pin 70 extending through the threaded portion 65 of the bracket 49 in posit on to enter that portion of the groove 61 wlthln the pivot 48. It will be noted that the cap 66 when threaded down over the upper end of the bracket 49 secures the pin 70 in place so that once the cap 66 is in place the pin 7 0 1s prevented from becoming loose from the bracket 49.

The operation of my improved transmission is identical with that of the ord nary sliding gear transmission with the exception that when it is desired to use the engine as a brake while in second gear, the rod 53 is moved upwarly so that the clutch teeth 44 1 and 45 may mesh. The gear ratio is in no way changed by this operation, the drive simply being obtained positively instead of through the overrunning clutch member 87. V

' Among the many. advantages arising from the use of my improved device it may be well to mention that I haveprovided a transmission which will allow the vehicle to overrun the engine thereby creating a saving in fuel under ordinary driving conditions. Further,

'I have provided an overrunning clutch for the second speed so that the transmission may be silently shifted from direct drive into the second speed at any time, even while thecar is in motion,with practically no clashing .of

the gears. Further, I have provided a convenient means for using the drag of engine as a brake While descending steep hills tothereby insure against failure of the vehicle brakes.

Some changes may be made in the arrange ment, construction, and combination of the various parts of my improved device Without departing from the spirit of my inven- 7 tion, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, such changes as may reasonably be included withinthe scope thereof.

I claim as my invention: 7 j A shift lever having a spherical portion formed thereon intermediate of its ends by means of which it is universally mounted in a transmission, said lever having a longitudinal groove therein extending from above the spherical portion down along the lever to position adjacent to the lever actuated elements of the transmission, a-rod reciprocally mount- 7 ed in said groove so that it lies substantially within the lines of the lever, said lever having a portion at its actuated end of reduced diameter so that the adjacent portion of the rod projects outwardly therefrom, said adjacent rod portion having a notch therein substantially aligned With the surface of said reduced portion, a U shaped clip reciprocally mounted on said reduced portion with one arm thereof extending into said notch so as V to beactuated by said rod, a spring disposed around said reducedportion and rod resiliently urging the clip to its inoperative position, and a means associated with the other end of said rod whereby it may be manually reciprocated.

AURENCE s. SHELDRICK. 

